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Product Description

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With her love for all things old-fashioned, Jennifer Burns has often been told she's an "old soul," but no one is prepared for the twenty-four-year-old's decision to set aside her modern life in favor of the Old Order world of the Lancaster County Amish. Yet Jenny does exactly that, adopting Plain dress and settling in with Samuel and Rebecca Lapp while she works as a mother's helper for the bishop's wife-a far cry from her former job.

The people of Hickory Hollow are curious about the beautiful young seeker among them, one handsome Amishman in particular. But he is not the only man vying for Jenny's affections, and Jenny faces many challenges in the Proving time the brethren have set for her . . . challenges of the heart, as well as the spirit.

Publisher's Description

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Readers Eagerly Await the Latest from Beverly Lewis, the #1 Name in Amish Fiction

With her love for all things old-fashioned, Jennifer Burns has often been told she's an "old soul," but no one is prepared for the young woman's decision to set aside her modern life in favor of the Old Order Amish world. Yet Jenny does exactly that, adopting Plain dress and settling in with Samuel and Rebecca Lapp while she works as a mother's helper for the bishop's wife--a far cry from her former job as an x-ray technician.

The people of Hickory Hollow are curious about the beautiful young seeker among them, one handsome Amishman in particular. But he is not the only man vying for Jenny's affections, and Jenny faces many challenges in the Proving time the brethren have set for her...challenges of the heart, as well as the spirit.

Will Jenny's secrets keep her from the peace she longs for? Or will they lead the way home?

Author Bio

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Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, has more than 17 million books in print. Her stories have been published in eleven languages and have regularly appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today. Seven of her blockbuster novels have received the Gold Book Award for sales over 500,000, and The Brethren won a 2007 Christy Award for excellence in Christian fiction. Beverly and her husband, David, live in Colorado, where they enjoy hiking, biking, making music, and spending time with their family. Learn more at www.beverlylewis.com.

Picked up this book at a thrift store, but so glad I did! It is a redeeming story of a young girl looking for herself and the life she believes God has chosen for her. While she is looking and praying, she also works out issues with her own family, is true to a new friend, and meets her forever husband. This is a really good book and would be for a young person who is unmarried.

Wow this book was so enjoyable. It was wonderful to visit again Samuel and Rebecca Lapp and Katie. This isn't just another typical Amish book with the typical plots. It is a unique approach with someone from the English world desiring to become Amish and their struggle to learn the Amish way. This is a book I will want to read again

"The Secret Keeper" by Beverly Lewis features the story of Jenny Burns, a young woman from a wealthy family in Connecticut who has always felt a bit out of place. Ever since she was a child, she always had a deep respect for Amish culture and heritage. Now that she is an adult, a friendship with Amishwoman Marnie Lapp along with her desire to live a Plain life leads to Jenny giving up everything, including her family, to settle in Hickory Hollow. She finds a mentor in Rebecca Lapp as she enters her time of Proving, the time for Jenny to decide to commit to living the Amish life. But when Jenny finds out a secret of Rebecca's, it puts her whole Proving in jeopardy.

The entire story was engaging and enjoyable. I thought Lewis did a fine job with illustrating the difficulties that an outsider would have with adapting to a Plain lifestyle, even one who longed for it with every fiber of her being. It was nice to see character tie-ins from previous novels. I enjoyed this fourth book in the "Home to Hickory Hollow" series, and will definitely keep my eyes out for the upcoming fifth book in the series!

(I've received this complimentary book from Bethany House Publishers through the Book Blogger program in exchange for a review. A positive review was not required and the views expressed in my review are strictly my own.)

This is a wunderbar gut book! Beverly Lewis writes with amazing detail and clarity, drawing the reader into the lives of her characters as if they are real people; our friends, family, loved ones.

When I requested this book for review, I didn't realize it was the fourth book in the Home to Hickory Hollow series, so going back there was a treat for me. I enjoyed the glimpse into what's been happening the last few years since Katie's shunning.

I think this book brings a good comparison to those who think they want to become Amish and those who want to leave the community. Jenny wants to convert to the Amish lifestyle, something she has dreamed of for years. Staying with the Lapp's is an experience beyond what she imagined. Secrets abound and she is drawn into a big one. I believe she put the Amish on a pedestal, thinking they could do no wrong, or live such morally upright lives that they don't have faults, but she is sadly disillusioned. It will be interesting to see what happens next.

Then there are those who attend the Bible study at Katie and Daniel's, seeking to claim publicly their faith in Christ and risk being censured or shunned. One of the best parts of these books is the faith element. Many would say Old Order Amish are Christians but adhering to rules and regulations in a church doesn't make one so, no matter what denomination you belong to. It's the heart that matters and only the Lord knows one's heart. Although, I can't imagine how difficult it would be to live in a community that doesn't allow you to express your assurance in salvation through faith in Christ alone, when the Bible so clearly teaches it.

As always, this was a page turner for me. Any fan of Amish fiction will enjoy this story. It's a keeper :)

I appreciate Bethany House providing me a copy for review purposes. No monetary compensation has been received, only my honest opinion of the book.

With her love for all things old-fashioned, Jennifer Burns has often been told she's an "old soul," but no one is prepared for the young woman's decision to set aside her modern life in favor of the Old Order Amish world. Yet Jenny does exactly that, adopting Plain dress and settling in with Samuel and Rebecca Lapp while she works as a mother's helper for the bishop's wife--a far cry from her former job as an x-ray technician.

The people of Hickory Hollow are curious about the beautiful young seeker among them, one handsome Amishman in particular. But he is not the only man vying for Jenny's affections, and Jenny faces many challenges in the Proving time the brethren have set for her...challenges of the heart, as well as the spirit.

Will Jenny's secrets keep her from the peace she longs for? Or will they lead the way home?

My Review:

As a fan of Beverly Lewis's Amish fiction since it's inception (I was an impressionable eight year old) I was very excited when Samuel and Rebecca Lapp showed up in this novel. I really related to Jenny's yearning for a quiet, simple life; one that is free from the trappings of our fast paced modern world. Her family has no idea where she is, and when it becomes difficult for her during her Proving time, she has no home to go back to.

I came into this book fully expecting a stellar read and fantastic insight into the transition into Amish life through the eyes of an Englisher. I was not disappointed. Lewis brings to life (as only she can!) what it means to live an uncomplicated life, and what it truly costs to come from the outside world and try to become one of them. While I felt that the romance between Jenny and Andrew could have gotten more attention, that was secondary to Jenny's experiences as she tries to bridge the gap between her world and theirs. A recommended book for any fan of Amish fiction!

This book was provided by the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review.